2008 Woodie Awards
Not lost on Huntington
Head of Little Wanderers back after State House stint
Danielle Capalbo
Issue date: 9/10/07 Section: News
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The Wellesley College graduate and member of the Northeastern University Corporation, a group that elects Northeastern's board of trustees, was distinctly qualified for the position - it just wasn't the job for which she applied.
"I got introduced to The Home basically [applying to be a] search consultant," said Wallace-Benjamin, former chief of staff to Governor Deval Patrick, whose main task would have been scouting a suitable prospect for president on behalf of The Home. "So, I'm being interviewed about providing the search services ... and at one point, a board member stops and says, 'You're interviewing for the wrong job'"
The executive board members turned down Wallace-Benjamin as search consultant because, they agreed, she lacked experience. But several months later, the candidate who won contacted Wallace-Benjamin by phone. The consultant asked her to re-apply, however, this time, for president.
"I'd done a lot of research about the organization," said Wallace-Benjamin. She said she was excited for the opportunity.
She was ready, with a keen community leadership sensibility informed by a history of hands-on experience. For 11 years prior, Wallace-Benjamin served as president of The Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, which since 1919 has promoted civil rights, and economic self-reliance of the city's African- American community, and other people of color, according to the official website.
In February 2003, after a series of strenuous interviews, and presentations on her relevant experience, the board named Wallace-Benjamin president of The Home.
The Home for Little Wanderers is a non-profit organization that provides care to the commonwealth's most vulnerable children and families, Wallace-Benjamin said. Located at 271 Huntington Ave., on the block between Gainsborough Street and Massachusetts Avenue, The Home is about a five-minute walk from Northeastern's campus.
The organization promotes social, emotional and mental health in impoverished children and families through services that reach thousands of people each year in 20 programs statewide, she said.
Immediately, Wallace-Benjamin used her pull to make needed changes at The Home. Due to recent mergers of several human service and child-serving organizations, The Home, once of humble size, suddenly grew large.
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